Jimbo's Jots

“I can’t seem to slow life down!”

“Even when I lay down, my mind just races! I think about today. I think about tomorrow. And the next thing and the next!”

Sitting across from clients, I hear this a lot. It really is a common issue. The “what if?” and the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” thoughts run through our minds like a runner who can’t find the finish line.

There is a time in Jesus’ ministry when his life as a minister did not slow down. Take a look at what happens in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ ministry in chapters 13-14: disrespected by his own hometown; death of a his cousin and friend, John; feeding 5,000 (and the crowd wanting to make him King (John’s gospel).

After all of this, Jesus sought out rest! “After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.” (Matthew 14:23, ESV)

When the weight of his ministry came upon him, Jesus retreated. Prayer reentered his mind and focus and brought him rest. My guess was he prayed a prayer of peace. He spoke peace in to his day.

And I don’t think it ironic that the very next story Matthew records is Jesus walking on water through the wind and waves around him.

How much more can Jesus do for us when we call on His peace in to our world? The peace that Jesus offers as we grieve the death of a loved one. The peace that Jesus gives with the waves and wind of life seem to toss us around. The peace He gives when we just reach out in the night and our minds race from one thought to another and we begin to speak peace of Jesus!

Be blessed and be a blessing!